ACDP reaffirms warning on religious public holidays

African Christian Democratic Party leader Rev Kenneth R Meshoe MP
19 June 2003

The African Christian Democratic Party has reaffirmed its statement that
there is a debate about the removal of Christmas and Good Friday as public
holidays since the National Association of School Governing Bodies made its
call for the review of public holidays of a religious nature on May 13 at a
media briefing hosted by Cosatu.

"It is not true that we are spreading falsehoods about removing public
holidays as alleged by President Thabo Mbeki," ACDP leader Reverend Kenneth
Meshoe said. "We did not say that the government was debating the issue. The
debate is outside the corridors of Parliament, but we do not want the
government to consider removing these Christian holidays in response to the
calls made by the NASGB. We want to warn our constituency to be on the alert
about the issue.

"In 1996 when the ACDP warned that the government was planning to stop
prayers and devotions in schools and close Christian radio stations, the
government said that we were spreading falsehoods. Today, a number of
Christian radio stations have been closed down and schools have been given
the directive not to allow Christian prayers in assemblies. There are some
black churches that have been told by the government to stop using school
facilities for their meetings, despite the government's denial that this
would happen," Rev Meshoe said.


For more information: Rev Kenneth Meshoe MP at 082 962 5884
Media Liaison: Charmaine Horne at 084 370 3550 or 021 403 3307